The 2025 Virginia Synod Assembly will take place from Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15 on the campus of Roanoke College. Scroll down to learn more about the theme, speakers, and planned business at the 2025 Virginia Synod Assembly. Registration closed on June 3, 2025.

Below are some of the links referenced by presenters at the assembly.

Report of the ELCA

Presenter Links

Mission Partners (In Order Presenting to the Assembly)

Elected at the 2025 Virginia Synod Assembly

Synod Council, Class of 2027

  • River Smith –Lay Member – Young Adult

Synod Council, Class of 2029

  • Jerry Hoke – Lay Member, Piedmont Conference Partnership
  • Nathaniel Porter – Lay Member, Appalachia Partnership
  • Patricia Corliss – Lay Member, At-Large
  • Cedric Wilson – Lay Member, Person of Color/Primary Language other than English
  • Rev. Tina Melusky – Rostered Minister, Coastal Partnership
  • Rev. Deanna Boynton – Rostered Minister, Valley Partnership

Committee on Discipline, Class of 2031

  • Charlie Page – Lay Member
  • Erin Hager – Lay Member
  • Erin Geoffrion – Lay Member
  • Rev. Joel S. Neubaurer – Rostered Minister

Thank you to all the nominees who were willing to offer their time and their wisdom to serve as leaders in the Virginia Synod.

Virginia Synod Assembly: June 13-15, 2025

Assembly Theme: Intertwining Hope 

John 15:5 – “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.” – The Voice Translation

God’s love is the source of our life, both as individual sprouts of God as well as in the vine of Christ. Virginia Lutherans are intertwined by God through our baptisms into the singular hope of Jesus. The hope of Jesus is provision, forgiveness, and beauty in this life, and reconciliation and resurrection in the life to come. The hope of Jesus is new life out of death.

This year’s Synod Assembly theme embraces God’s connection with us as Vine and the branch and the unimaginable mission and ministry that could be possible as God works within and through us to accomplish God’s purpose. As baptized believers, we have that hope-filled, confident support to know that our gracious and faithful God is with us.

Our theme, Intertwining Hope, emphasizes the connectedness of our spiritual relationship with the Creator, Redeemer, and Guide. As our physical bodies continually need nourishment to sustain life and livelihood, our spiritual dependence on the nourishment we receive through our Holy Connection helps us to be strong in our relationships with each other, courageous in our mission and ministry to others, and fearless in our following wherever the Holy Spirit may lead.

The Virginia Synod gathers at assembly to experience and express what it means to be church. Together, as the Body of Christ, we care for necessary business, participate in and experience corporate worship, and engage in fellowship and faith formation.

Use the link below to download the general arrangements document to learn more about the Assembly.

Click here to read the General Arrangements.

Assembly Theme: Intertwining Hope 

John 15:5 – “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.” – The Voice Translation

God’s love is the source of our life, both as individual sprouts of God as well as in the vine of Christ. Virginia Lutherans are intertwined by God through our baptisms into the singular hope of Jesus. The hope of Jesus is provision, forgiveness, and beauty in this life, and reconciliation and resurrection in the life to come. The hope of Jesus is new life out of death.

As we abide with God and with each other in the vine: 

  • God’s hope births us. Hannah.
  • God’s hope grows us. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
  • God’s hope prunes and transforms us. Acts 10
  • God’s hope sustains us. Romans 5:1-5
  • God’s hope holds us in rest. Jubilee.
  • We grieve with hope. 1 Thess 4:13-14
  • We die in hope. Psalm 121

This year’s Synod Assembly theme embraces God’s connection with us as Vine and the branch and the unimaginable mission and ministry that could be possible as God works within and through us to accomplish God’s purpose. As baptized believers, we have that hope-filled, confident support to know that our gracious and faithful God is with us.

Our theme, Intertwining Hope, emphasizes the connectedness of our spiritual relationship with the Creator, Redeemer, and Guide. As our physical bodies continually need nourishment to sustain life and livelihood, our spiritual dependence on the nourishment we receive through our Holy Connection helps us to be strong in our relationships with each other, courageous in our mission and ministry to others, and fearless in our following wherever the Holy Spirit may lead.

The Voting Membership of the Assembly includes the following:

  • All Rostered Ministers under call on the roster of this synod (including non-congregational calls)
  • Congregational Lay Voting Members (elected by their congregations)
  • At-Large Lay Members Appointed by Synod Council (Subject to S7.21.04)
  • Synod Authorized Ministers (who have been authorized to serve by the bishop and subject to S7.26.B24.)
  • Lay Officers of the Synod
  • Lay Members of Synod Council
  • Subject to S7.22.01. and S7.22.02 of the Virginia Synod Constitution:
    • Retired Rostered Ministers
    • Rostered Ministers On Leave from Call
    • Rostered Ministers on Disability Leave

Please note that every congregation is entitled to at least two (2) lay voting members, typically of different genders.

Congregations are strongly encouraged to elect, where possible, qualified persons who would express the inclusiveness of the church. EARLY election and certification of voting members are highly desirable so that Assembly committees can be formed in a timely manner with proper representation from the conferences.

Additional Lay Voting Members: Larger congregations are entitled to additional lay voting members on the following basis of baptized members (as of December 31, 2024). For each additional 200 baptized members or portion thereof over 400, the congregation should elect an additional lay voting member.

  • 0-400 = 2 voting members
  • 401-600 = 3 voting members
  • 601-800 = 4 voting members
  • 801-1000 = 5 voting members
  • 1001-1200 = 6 voting members

For the 2025 Synod Assembly, we seek nominations to serve on the Synod Council, the Committee on Discipline, and the ELCA Church Council.

Please refer to roles to be elected at the 2025 Synod Assembly.  If you are interested in serving, please fill out a nomination form.

Nominations and Biographical Information

The list below contains links to Assembly forms and includes the due dates for the forms.

To submit a resolution to be proposed for the 2025 Synod Assembly, you must complete this form by May 14.